The Oxford Book Of Australian Letters
Edited by Brenda Niall and John Thompson
Published by Oxford University Press Australia 1998 1st Edition
"A substantial and thoughtfully curated anthology, The Oxford Book of Australian Letters brings together more than two centuries of correspondence that illuminate the personal, political, literary, and cultural history of Australia. Edited by noted literary scholars Brenda Niall and John Thompson, this 1998 first edition presents an extraordinary range of voices — from explorers, settlers, and convicts to celebrated authors, artists, politicians, and ordinary Australians whose letters vividly capture the evolving national experience. Rich in humour, reflection, hardship, and intimacy, the collection offers a deeply human portrait of Australian life across generations.
Published by Oxford University Press Australia, the volume was conceived as both a literary anthology and a historical document, preserving forms of communication increasingly displaced by modern technology. The editors assemble letters of remarkable diversity and emotional range, including correspondence connected with war, migration, colonial settlement, Indigenous experience, literature, and public life. Figures such as Patrick White, Charles Darwin, D.H. Lawrence, and other notable personalities appear alongside lesser-known but equally compelling voices, creating an absorbing and highly readable collection.
Presented in its original dust jacket featuring an elegant period portrait design, this first edition remains an attractive and important modern reference work for collectors of Australian literature, social history, and epistolary writing. Combining scholarship with broad popular appeal, The Oxford Book of Australian Letters stands as a valuable contribution to Australian cultural history and would make an excellent addition to any Australiana, literary, or university library collection."
Dustjacket with light wear as shown. Book is very clean with no inscriptions. An excellent copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
